kaye, I did hang one picture with only one inch to spare on either side, but it didn't work well because it added very strong horizontal lines to a wall that already had a WIDE window. I have to rethink the whole art thing.

tigereye...thanks for the tip on the Command hooks. Yep, I need those.

You are correct, Molly, the #2 pulls together all the colors in the room! It is a genius choice, and I so would have done it in a more conventional setting, but it doesn't somehow go with the house. Maybe not exuberant enough.

LMAO I didn't even think of those pom poms and dust! Wait 'til I get a dog....

I'll have a friend check out #3 tomorrow for a second opinion. She used to live in India.

The saga continues..... my friend and I decided #3 rug is a NO-GO. Why? They evidently wove jute into it. In places, it stabs when you touch it. Walk on it, and it's...Stab. Stab. Stab. Nope!

What about rug #2? It is very nice. You might like something not as bold. Bolder will clash with the art. Did you get the Command hooks to try out your art work? I think the art would be fine with only a few inches to spare.

ETA: Call me crazy, but I thought the purpose of a rug was to walk on? Why would any company put sticky crap in a rug?

ETA 2: LOL, I must have missed a few comments. I see you have tried the art.

Well that sounds horrible! What did she think of the yellow one?

Molly, I had already sent the yellow one back to Amazon, since there was something about it that just didn't work.

Ikea might have a couple of rugs in stock now that they didn't before..... another day trip coming up.

What size ends up working best?

I have 2 more rugs on the way. The size that works best is 5x7 approx. One is super crazy jazzy, the other is the same company as the yellow one above, but has greens and teals as well as a little yellow and grey. Maybe it will be a little more interesting.

Stay tuned.

I’ll stay tuned, glad you found a size you like.

Ha, ha! I have a rug...... Russian redux! With all the color in the rug instead of the furniture!

Yep, at Tigereye's prompting, I went on the wild side (though not as wild as the Ikea model).

It's soft and cozy underfoot, a thick wool, hand looped.

Here's a photo from the order. In person, it's a bit softer in tone. I'll have in situ photos after I get a new chair next week (the Ikea Poäng destroyed my back).

Tabgerinedoor how are things going in your new house?

Oops sorry for the typo Tangerinedoor!

Sounds like it's time for a small update!

Point #1. There could be no better place to self-isolate than my new home.

Point #2. When stores began shutting down, I was right in the middle of putting my indoor spaces together. This is on hold for the time being.

Point #3. My yellow chair did not have lasting appeal for me, and no one wanted to sit in it. So, I returned it to Ikea, and that's kind of where I am.

Point #4. Trying to fit a rectangular rug into my living room area was driving me insane. Square has to be it. I have one now. I didn't have a chance to pick up complementary accessories.

Point #5. Ikea is just a perfect source for me. I have bought many things I never thought of myself as owning, and I love them! I can also move them around easily.

Point #6. All related: I don't have anywhere to put stuff, I'm still downsizing, and my needs are quickly changing. All of a sudden I have garden tools I need to put somewhere!

Point #7. The art work I loved really doesn't work in this house. A. There's no wall space for it, and B. the mats are too dark and greyish. So, I have to figure out what to do.

Point #8. I had to pay $100 for shorter legs for my mini-sofa. The sofa seems well-made, but the seat cushions are memory-foam and sag quickly.

Some photos of a few things I got in subsequent posts.

My new rug (6x6). Besides shape, it was my best choice as far as staying within the color palette of the rest of the house. And it's fun.

You need a small shed.

Some new living room stuff. I LOVE all these pieces, even though I've never even thought of owning stuff like this before. Plus, they suit the house.

Foam is easy to replace in seat cushions. As soon as the stores open up, find a shop that sells upholstery fabric and supplies. They will have, more than likely, precut foam in the size you need.

tigereye

re: replacement foam

ya, but she just got it!!!

Ya, but sometimes now you have to go a little more. Nothing comes like you want it anymore.

Most important: Is everyone well?

tigereye

got it! Replace with better quality!

tangerinedoor

I guess so. Corona‘s not bothering me too much thankfully.

Papa passed away in January. It was a long goodbye. I was blessed to have cared for him.

But now I have cancer so that’s a whole other issue.

When it rains it pours. Nothing like salt on the wound!

All my decorating plans still on hold.

I remember my mom had just died when you first posted and I was thrown into the whirlwind of caring for my dad. Your post was a fun balm for me then.

We’ve all come a long way.

Ishop19 so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, hope you are getting the treatment you need to beat the big C!! {hugs}. Tangerinedoor do you have any outdoor seating that has storage like a bench seat or ottoman?

ishop, I'm so sorry. Life has been really difficult for you. Our whole interaction was "fun balm" for me, too. Sending you good vibes.

Molly, I'm getting a small deck built this summer. I'm hoping to get the stuff that goes under the deck boards that funnels water off, so it's all dry under the deck. That way, I'll have some dry storage for yard stuff. You're right, I need to solve this problem!

But I do need a shed if I get a windfall. Right now, my bike is in my 2nd bedroom along with my camping gear.

You know that Ikea rug that we started off with at the top of this thread? Last time I was in Ikea, I browsed the "scratch and dent" area (whatever they call it). Someone had returned that rug with dog poop on it! Ick. There it was being sold, dog poop and all.

Noooooo!!!! Lol

Ewww. 💩

Tangerinedoor: So nice to see an update on your stuff. Hope you'll be able to share pictures of your living room even if it's still not 100% "done". I like your rug! Ikea has some great stuff. Are the floor lamps sturdy? I was considering one for our family room.

ishop19: Very sorry to read you're dealing with all this. Allow me to offer you my condolences along with my best wishes for a prompt recovery.

Tartanmeup. The lamps at Ikea are fantastic. My four (!!!) are clever and very well made. Even my $10 paper one is genius. I've never had lamps this stylish, and these are like the least expensive lights I've ever had.

Also, on the topic of Ikea, whatever I can, I get "Click and Collect". This means I order in the morning and pick it up later in the day: no unnecessary trip and no warehouse nightmare. That feature is closed right now, but I can't recommend it enough.

For "Click and Collect", I usually have things picked out in person from the trip before so I know what they look like. Especially for something like a lamp, I recommend doing that, just to be sure the base will fit in your space, the height is right for you, etc.

My March grid electric usage was $6. Yep, six dollars. That's for a winter month in northern New England. Solar generated that month (I had no credits from prior months) covered all the rest. I'm gobsmacked.

NICE!

That's amazing! Good on you!

Wonderful! This is further confirmation you made good choices 👍😊👍

That's nice! So pretty!

Very pretty. I love the rug and the fresh flowers make it feel like spring!

I paid to ship 3 big pieces of art work here that I used to love. I hadn't laid eyes on them for 15 years because they were in storage. One of them is in this pic. One I don't have room for. And one big one I have in my bedroom, but I'd really rather the wall was blank. Funny, I don't love them any more. Actually, they're making me anxious. So, I think I'm going to have to rethink the art for my walls.

The area where that chair is in my photo needs something tall. I haven't figured out what.

Is the artwork of a tropical scene? Would you rather something with some texture behind the chair?

The 3 art pieces (two colossal, and the one above the chair in my photo) are by Andrea Beloff. They're actually posters, so they're cheap. The frames would be VERY expensive these days.

The originals were from hand-made paper and then ripped to collage. The 3 I have are tropical scenes. They are quirky, casual, and easy.

http://andreabeloff.com/paper-collages/

I had them hanging in the office of a job that was a disaster. Much as I love the art, I'm not sure I want it in my current life.

I have tried to put a large plant behind the chair, but then the corner looks too crowded.

I own 3 large plants: a monstera, a fiddle leaf fig, and a pony-tail palm. I haven't been able to get any of them to work

What about a drapery panel to soften the window?

Good idea, Molly, but I'm not doing drapes in this house. Not enough space, and I'm loving the natural light.

I might be able to do a very tall, slender, light right in the corner. Not a torchière. Ikea doesn't have anything like that right now that's really tall and slender, otherwise I'd go for it.

If the art doesn't work for you, it may be time to let it go. I understand how that works. Right now I have a 24x36 framed flamingo poster in my guest bedroom! Next year, who knows?

Is IKEA the only option for you? Where would you put your other lamp if you put one behind the chair? This is from Target.

https://www.target.com/p/globe-head-floor-led-lamp-black-includes-energy-efficient-light-bulb-project-62-8482/-/A-52011634

I'm not sure I see a lamp back there though. If the large plants aren't working for you, what about something like a wall planter with succulents or air plants?

https://www.target.com/p/decorative-wall-sculpture-black-project-62-8482/-/A-53477921

Or a piece of the woven wall art that's everywhere now?

https://www.target.com/p/15-34-x28-34-hand-woven-cotton-and-wool-wall-art-opalhouse-8482/-/A-54572890

https://www.target.com/p/12-34-x-18-34-white-woven-wall-hanging-opalhouse-8482/-/A-77643970

Or a colorful African wall basket?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/698589448/african-wall-baskets12-rwanda-basket?

Good thought on the Africa thing, katinparadise! You almost read my mind.... I plan to get 2 West-African-stye pillows. I grew up there. I have 2 African baskets on hand. But wow, those Rwandan bowls are spectacular. I want to buy them all....

The succulent wall hangers are a genius idea. I hadn't thought of that at all. Let me investigate.

I'm glad to hear you have options. I'm currently obsessed with African juju hats. They're outrageously expensive though, and it's not something I would attempt to DIY. Have you seen them?

Oh, my gosh. No, I haven't ever seen anyone in one of those hats. I can't see putting them on my wall, but if ever I lose my hair, I'm going all out with one of those for my topknot.

(I see comments are back to most recent first. Ugh.)

Nice to see glimpses of your new decor, Tangerine. Trust your eye. If you don't find the art "goes" in this house, set it aside. I've had quite a few pieces over the years that just don't work for me anymore. Our tastes are allowed to change. More importantly, you're in a totally new space. The light is different. The furniture is different. The whole vibe is different. Respect your new place's energy. (Congrats on your energy savings, btw.)

Love the lamp next to the chair and the graphic appeal of the black and white cushion. (I'll be honest, I find the cushion a tad too big for the chair. But that's my impression from a picture.) Not a pro but I think the height of the lamp works with the window and the chair heights. I like the scale of this lamp.

Continued best of luck with your new abode, Tangerine. It really sounds like a fantastic house for you!

Thanks for all your compliments, @tartanmeup! And the encouragement to ditch the art.

I agree that the cushion is VERY large for the spot. Waaaaaay too big. But after having it like that (it's an Ikea cushion cover that they no longer make in the smaller size) just to get a feel whether a pattern like that would work, oversize has become kinda fun. You don't expect oversize in a mini-living room.

Outsize reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocBO0fr1Ui4

I didn’t mean for the drapes to be functional, just something to soften the window and add “art” to the wall.

Thanks @Molly, now I see what you're saying.